Universal joint for front-wheel drives for motor-vehicles.



M. F. ROSS. UNIVERSAL 101111 FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 31 1915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Pairs MATT F. RSS5, OF EVINIQFALL INDIE-NA.

UNIVERSAL JGINT FOR FRONT-VJHEEL DRIVES FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Speoifieation of Letters Patent. Faimgtegffi Jung 6,1931%, application filed Sepfiemner 3, 1915. Serial No. 48,357.

. extreme end a threaded cap 12. This honsmm] ga 1 at l. him- F. Rose, a mg l1 for-ms the lnclosnre fo file universal rates. residing a: Windgoint which will be hereinafter more fully oi. Tipton and State of described. as 5 nied oer ,ain new and use- All annular series of roller bearings 13 15 ful iiZ'lEIFl' YQHHHiS in Universal Joints for mounted in each opening 5, and these bearvl ronn\l'heel Drives for iilotor-Vehicles; ings surround the shank of the cap screws and i. do h reby declare the following to be 14,.5he inner extremities of which are threada 'li -l i'l exact description of the in ed into the cars 15, formed on the arms 16, nion. mlifll as will enable others skilled in which in turn are formed integral with the i rito which is appertains to make and. sleeve 1'?" A. suitable dust cap or hand 18 .use the same. surrounds the sleeve 17 and extends for- This invention r nesto new and useful wardly therefrom and provided with a Enrproremenis in an real, joints for front suitable annular groove 19 in which a pack- 7 drive for motor vehicles, and the ing 20 is retain d. This extension projects j ci of the invention is to proover the red eed portion 21 of the sleeve 17, iroridecl with a joint allowing and this reduced poriion 21 is formed with iurned, which is also adapt an annular groove for she reception of a ad wheels. suitable packing". Threaded into the sleeve 'ect of the invention is to is the tubular bearing 23, in which the stub orzn of universal joint, alshaft, which will be hereinafter more fully movement of the wheel, described, is mounted. This bearing 23 is of pos tion. provided at its extreme our-er end with ex- "1 ith hess and oiiher objects in view, the tcrnal. screw threads, on which a suitable reinvention consists in the novel combinabion taining ring is threaded, and surrounding and arrangement oi parts which will be the bearing is an annular series of bearing hilly setforth in the following specification rollers 25 which are housed "Within the bushand acconipan ing drawings, in which ing 26 of the hub 27. This bushing is lflc's 1 a longitudinal sectional view formed with an annular flangc'QS at its exg g; through a fragment of a front axle contreme inner end, wl'iich cooperates with a serucied in. accordance with this invention, ring 29 nd ball bearings 30 in forming a Fig. 9 an enlargeiil scetio: al view through bearing at-the extreme outer end; of the re she universal coupli g, and Fig. 3 is an endueed extension 21 of thesleeve 17. A suiti View P Sociifin; (if one the able cylindrical extension 39- is formed on 9 connections, the hub and lies over the reduced portion 21 Referring now to the dI'a Hg y nand. between said reduced portion and the actor of reference, the numeral 1 designates. d st ha d, so as to exclude dust from any the usual front axle, which is tubular in part 0+? the device. form and provided at each end with suitable Th h b i id d t it it d so screw heads on which the sleeve 2 is threadith i1 i te l cap ti 33, hi h is ed. This sleeve is provided with the flared formed with a tapered opening 34 and a portion 3, which terminates in a suitable ear 1 it bl gT Ve 0y keyqv y 35 Thi groove 4. There are preferably two flared portions or key va,y i d t d f th reception f 3, which extend from diametrically opposite the key 36, which also extends into the points, as indicaied, and each of these is groove-or key-way 37 formed in the stub formed with the 2 and each is P shafii, which will he more fully hereinafter vided with an opening 5, which alines with described. A suitable hub cap 38 is threadthe opening in the opposite ear, as clearly ed on the cap portion 33 and excludes dust shown in Fig. l. Rotate ily mou ted in the from the stub axle herein before referred to. axle 1, is the drive shaft (3, the forward end Mounted in the bearing sleeve 2-3 is the of which is screw threaded, as at and pr stub shaft 39 above mentioned, and this stub vided with a transverse aperture 8, and shaft is provided. with the tapered oxi'onsion threaded on this shaft. is the universal hous- 40 which cooperates with the tapered o e in onnection 9, which is surrounded bythe ing 3%, and is provided with the reduced 1 so i e 10, on which is formed integrally the threaded extension 41 on which l'lie nue 42 nail-y spherical housing 11 carrying-at its is threaded. The r positc end of this shaft is screw threaded, as at 48, and provided with a transverse bore 4%- for the reception of a pin Thispin extends through the bore and through an opening formed in the sleeve 46, which is provided with external screw threads, over which the. universal joint housing 47 is threaded. This housing d7 cooperates with the housing 11, above referred to, in completely inclosing the universal joint, which will be more fully hereinafter described.

The sleeves 9 and 46 are identical in construction, and each comprises a tapered body d8 which is formed with the forwardly extending ears 49 having therein a bore 50 which alines with the bore in the opposite ear, and mounted in said bore are annular series of bearings 51, which engage the outer cylindrical portion of the stem 52 of the pivot pin, the screw threaded portion of which engages in one of the screw threaded openings 5i formed in a spherical member 55 of the universal joint.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that in use, the power is applied to the drive shaft (3 and will be transmitted tliirough the universal joint to the stub shaft 39, from .whence it will be transmitted by means of the key 36 to the hub cap section 33 and thence to the hub 2'2. The universal joint will permit the device to turn in any direction and it will be apparent that the controlling of the Vehicle may be readily accomplished.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall. within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

hat is claimed is 1- In a universal joint, a pair of forked members arranged in planes at right angles to each other, a ball adapted to fit between the forked members, said ball being provided with four flat faces, the-flat faces having internally threaded bores extending aX- ially therein. and being adapted to be engaged by the inner faces of the forked members, studs threaded into the bores in the ball and adapted to project through the forked members to pivotally mount the forked members on the ball, roller bearings surrounding the studs, the inner ends of said bearings resting on the flat faces of the ball, the. studs being provided with internally threaded bores, cap screw adapted to be threaded into each bore, a washer surrounding each cap screw and bearing on the outer end of its respective stud, the washers limiting the outward movement of the rollers and a ring surrounding each set of rollers, and interposed between the Washers and the forks of the forked members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATT r. ROSS.

Witnesses:

F. M. FISHER, B. F. Teens. 

